2026’s Biggest Makeup Trends Are a Maximalist Dream

The Makeup Looks You’ll Be Seeing Everywhere

1. Embellished Eyes

From polished pearls to glitzy gems, embellished eye makeup will be one of next year’s biggest makeup trends. Maybe it has to do with the rumored return of Euphoria, or maybe the popularity of Chappell Roan’s eccentric makeup looks has inspired the look. Either way, we’re excited to play around with all the accessories. 

Singh created this look on Chappell by first creating a smoky eye, then sweeping a glittery eyeshadow on top. Fluttery false lashes intensified the glam, but this look required a little something extra: “I added silver stud appliqués to highlight the inner corners of the eye, and adhered red gems to her lower false lashes.” You can recreate the look with similar colored crystals, or make it your own with sequins or chrome foils. That’s the beauty of embellishments—you can use them to level up your sparkly glam, or leave them solo as the whole look. It’s totally up to you. 

While her own gems come with adhesion, you can always stick some (skin-safe) embellishments on with eyelash glue. To remove, just use some micellar water or an oil-based makeup remover to loosen the adhesive. 

2. Rosy Flush

Blush will still be big next year, but we’re moving on from blush blindness in favor of something more subtle. The latest blush trend embraces what comes naturally to us—that rosy flush you get after you’ve walked in the cold or seen your crush. 

“Applying blush on the apples of your cheeks mimics a natural flush, and helps your cheeks look more full,” says Singh. “You can also apply the blush upwards towards your ears to shape your face.” To really make your blush pop, keep the rest of your makeup clean and simple—or amp up the look by using the same blush shade on your lips. This PURLISSE BEAUTY Blush Glow BB Cheek + Lip in Desert Sunset will give you a rosy look with just a few swipes.

Don't underestimate the power of a purple blush, either. Using a bright purple or lilac shade neutralizes any yellow tones, leaving your cheeks looking naturally rosy while still vibrant and bright. 

3. Loud Lipstick

Basic lip combos are so last year. Now, we’re trying out the boldest shades—from powdery pink lipstick to black, vinyl-finished glosses. No matter what statement lip look you’ve been wanting to try, now’s the time to dust off the more pigmented shades in your collection. We love this Pepto Bismol–pink look, as seen at Chloé’s Spring 2026 runway show. 

Get the most pigmented pout by using lipstick, and customize your look by playing around with matte and satin finishes. Before swiping on any statement shade, however, make sure to exfoliate your lips and apply a hydrating lip balm. That way, your lip products will apply evenly and won’t seep into the lines of your lips. Singh also recommends using a lip liner, especially when applying darker lipsticks, as that will help keep the lipstick from bleeding outside of your lip shape. 

To set your lipstick, gently place a tissue atop your lips, then use a fluffy brush to apply powder over your pout (over the tissue). For a blurred effect, try blotting your lips with the tissue, or layer on a high-shine gloss to level up your look. 

4. Shimmer Shades

Shimmer shades aren’t just for special occasions. If the latest runways had anything to say, iridescent makeup is here to stay well past the New Year. Whether you prefer a frosted lipstick, a holographic highlighter, or a glistening eyeshadow—or the combination of all three—adding a cool-toned shine to your look will make you feel radiant inside and out. 

Add a little sparkle to your look with a sheer wash of shiny eyeshadow, like the ICONIC LONDON Glitter Eyeshadow Glaze Crayon in Nectar, which makes it easy to swipe on shimmer or just add a bit of glimmer to the inner corners of your eyes. Meanwhile, something like the NEEN Glisten Up Lip Gloss in Bye will leave you with a pout that catches the light from all angles. 

5. Smoky Winged Eyeliner

Let’s be real, the smoky eye never left—but now, it’s getting the editorial treatment. We’re seeing less smoke and more smudge, with liner or shadow rimmed around the eye. Kohl liners are especially helpful for creating that effortless look. “Make sure to apply your eyeliner quite liberally,” says Singh. “Feel free to get a little messy.” Before your liner dries down, she recommends using a smudging brush to drag the product into a sharp wing. Remember, you can always clean up your look with a Q-tip. “I like to trace over my kohl liner with a liquid one,” adds Singh. “It really intensifies the look and cements my liner in place.”

To add depth without getting too dark, try using brown or gray eyeshadow shades like the ones in this LAURA GELLER Ultimate Minimalist Palette. You can also soften up the look by skipping mascara altogether. 

6. Feathery False Lashes 

While we played around with colorful mascara this past year, we’re now turning up the volume even more, making our lashes the whole look. Whimsical and otherworldly falsies seemed to be everywhere this past Fashion Week, from gold-dipped and bejeweled lashes to ones that looked just like feathers. The best part about this trend is that you can customize it however you please, just as long as your eyes are the focal point of your glam. 

Get a doll-like look by spreading out individual lashes across your top and bottom lashlines, or go for long falsies that reach well past your brows. These Faux Mink Lashes from J LASH are perfect for getting luxurious and lengthy lashes. (Wink, wink.)

“You can also get that feathery look by placing a few lash clusters on the outer corners of your eyes,” says Singh. Try using these Uplifted Lash Clusters from LYS BEAUTY, which are pre-glued for hassle-free application. 

7. One-Wash Eyeshadow

Inspired by the ’60s and ’70s, this eyeshadow look only uses one color, making it incredibly easy to recreate. While we noticed baby blues and lilac shades have been most popular lately, you can customize the look with any color you please. Just make sure to wash your lids with color—meaning, apply your eyeshadow liberally over your eyelids, outer corners, and even your under eyes. 

You can soften the look by blending the edges of your eyeshadow with a fluffy brush, or tone it down by only applying color to the inner corners of your eyes. Having a colorful palette on hand, like the ACE BEAUTÉ Whimsical Bloom Eyeshadow Palette, will give you plenty of shades to choose from, especially if you plan on replicating the look multiple times. We love using the bright blue shade for a night out, or using the rusty orange shade for something more casual. 

Final Thoughts

The biggest makeup trends of 2026 are all about embracing the eccentric, from embellished eye makeup to loud, saturated lipstick shades. Colorful glam will be everywhere next year, and despite how bold these makeup looks are, they’re easier to replicate than you think. Don’t be afraid to try something new—it might just become your new favorite look. 

If you need any guidance, just look to our tutorials, which break down makeup looks into simple steps anyone can follow. Don’t forget to check out the IPSY Shop either, since that’s where you’ll find our curated product recommendations and trending makeup brands.